Starting motor



Nov. 19, 1935. J. B. DYER 2,021,146

START ING MOTOR Original Filed Feb. 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l E JOHN a. OVER J. B DYER START I NG MOTOR Nov. 19, 1935.

Original Filed Feb. 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 moan oz JOHN B. DYC'R Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STARTING MOTOR Application February 14, 1930, Serial No. 428,378 Renewed August 26, 1932 21 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in starting devices for internal combustion engines and particularly such engines used in motor vehicles.

It is among the objects of the present invention to utilize a control member of the engine for controlling the starting device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safeguard adaptedto render the starting device inoperative while the engine is self-operating. I

Another object of the invention is to combine the safeguard mentioned with the engine control member whereby said member may be operated to control the operating engine without rendering the starting device effective for starting purposes.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an engine for motor vehicles equipped with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly structural and partly diagrammatic, of the circuit controlling device provided in the starting device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the internal combustion engine is shown designated by the numeral 20. Engine 20 has a housing 2| secured thereto in any suitable manner, said housing 2| providing a container for the engine flywheel 22 and the clutch and power transmission mechanism, not shown. The engine flywheel gear 22 has a ring gear 23. The power transmission mechanism' contained within the housing 2|, but not shown, is controlled by the gear shift lever 24, while the clutch also contained within the housing 2|, but not shown, is controlled by the lever 25, depression of which into the dotted line position of Fig. 1 operates the clutch to disconnect the engine from the power transmission mechanism. A starting motor 30 is provided having an armature or drive shaft 3| to which one end of the worm shaft 32 of an ordinary Bendix type starter drive is secured. The other end of said worm shaft 32 is journalled in a bearing provided by the housing extension 36 which is secured to the motor 36,

and which provides means for securing the motor to the housing 2|. Within the housing extension 36 and carried by the worm shaft 32, there is a pinion 33 which is normally disengaged from the engine flywheel gear 23. However, upon rotation of the motor 30, this pinion 33 will move forwardly upon the worm shaft 32, meshing with the engine flywheel gear and thus transmitting the rotating movement of the motor shaft 3| to the engine flywheel. 22 for start- 19 ing purposes.

At the front end of the engine there is mounted a generator 35, drivingly'connected with the engine in any suitable manner so that said generator is driven by the engine whenever it operates.

The housing.extension 36 of the motor has an angular surface presenting a. mounting for the attachment of the switch housing 31. In Fig.

2 the manner in which switch housing 31 is secured to the extension housing 36 of the motor is clearly shown. Switch housing 31 has a partition 38 within it, said partition dividing the switch housing into two compartments 39 and 4|) respectively. A central opening 4| in the partition 36 provides communication. between these two compartments. Within the compartment 33 of the switch housing there is provided a winding 42, said winding fitting about a nonmagnetic metallic sleeve 45. Suitable insulation is provided at both ends of the winding and about its outer periphery. An end cover member 43 secured to the housing 31 in any suitable manner, encloses the winding 42 within said housing. A core 44 supported by the end cover member 43 in any suitable manner fits snugly into the one end of the non-magnetic sleeve 45. The end of the core 44 extending into the sleeve 45 is recessed as at 44a.

A plunger 46 flts slidably into the end of the non-magnetic sleeve 45, opposite the end containing the core 44, said plunger extending through the central opening 4| in thepartition 38 and into the compartment 40. The end of the plunger 46 extending into the compartment 45 40 is provided with a disc-like head 50. Between the plunger 46 and core 44 there is interposed a spring 41, one end of said spring fitting into the recess 44a. in the core 44, the other end fitting into a recess 46a provided in the plunger 46. 50 Spring 41 urges the plunger 46 away from the core 44, this movement being limited by a screw 43, the threaded end of which engages the plunger 46, the opposite end extending through a hole in the core 44 and having its head portion engaging the outer end surface of the core 44, said head portion acting as a stop limiting expansion of the spring 41. This screw 48 maintains a proper air gap between the inner ends of the plunger 46 and the core 44 and also between the disc-like head of the plunger 46 and the par tition 38.

On the outer surface of the disc-like head 50 there is provided an insulating cover 5!, said insulating cover-supporting two contacts 52 and 53 on diametrically opposite sides of the disclike head 56. Contact 52 has a flexible strap connection 54 secured thereto, said strap being connected also with the terminal screw 55 insulatingly supported on the outside of the switch housing 37. A similar flexible strap connection 56 connects the contact 53 with the outside terminal 51 insulatingly supported by the housing 37. Insulating bushings 58 are provided in the end cover 43, forming conduits through which the two extremities of the magnet winding 42 extend.

The switch housing 31 and more particularly the compartment 40 thereof,, is provided with a cover member 60 having a central lug portion 61 provided with a central passage 62 substantially in coaxial alignment with the plunger and core 46 and 44 respectively. Within this passage 62 there is slidably supported a shaft or rod 63, the inner end of which extends into the compartment 40. A key screw 64 in the cover member 60 has a tongue extending into a keyway 65 in the rod 63, permitting longitudinal, but not rotative movement ofsaid rod relative to the cover 60. At the inner end of the rod 63 a bridging contact member 65, made up of laminations, is insulatingly supported. This laminated bridging contact 65 is adapted to engage and bridge the contacts 52 and 53. Said bridging member 65 is maintained in proper spaced relation relative to the stationary contacts 52 and 53 by a spring 66 interposed between the cover member 60 and an insulating collar 61 provided at the outer end of the rod 63. Insulatingly supported at the outer end of rod 63 is a contact cap 68 which is in electrical connection with one end of the magnet winding 42 through the wire 69. This cap 68 lies in the path of movement of the clutch pedal 25 when the switch housing 31 is in proper position on the motor extension housing 36, said contact cap being engageable by said clutch pedal when it is moved into the clutch disengaging position.

As has been mentioned before, one end of the winding 42 is connected to the contact cap 68 through wire 69. The other end of the electromagnet winding 42 is connected with one side of the generator through the wire 10. The opposite side of the generator is grounded as at H. The side of the generator to which the electro-magnet winding 42 is connected is provided with a circuit breaking relay 12, said relay being connected in turn by the wire 13 with the terminal 55. A wire 14 connects said terminal 55 with the storage battery 75, one end of which is grounded as at H. The electric motor 30 is grounded at one side as at H. The other side is connected through wire 16 with the terminal 51, which, as has been described before, is connected with contact 53 through the flexible strap connection 56.

The device functions as follows:

When the operator desires to start the engine, he first closes the ignition switch to complete the engine ignition circuit. This circuit has not been shown in the drawings inasmuch as it has no direct connection with the starting device or its circuits. After the ignition circuit has been closed, the operator depresses the pedal 25 toward the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This operates the clutch to disconnect the engine from the power transmission mechanism. When the pedal reaches the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 1, it will engage with the contact cap 68 and, due to the fact that the pedal 25 is connected with the frame of the vehicle and thus grounded, the following circuit will be established: pedal 25, contact cap 68, wire 69, magnet winding 42, wire 10, generator 35, back to the pedal through the ground connection 1!. As long as the engine is not running and thus the generator not being driven, no current will flow through this circuit. Continued movement of the pedal 25 after engaging with the contact cap 68, will move the rod 63 through the cover 60 against the effect of spring 66, causing the bridging contact 65 to engage with the stationary contacts 52 and 53, completing the following starting motor circuit:

From the battery 15 through wire 14 to terminal 55, thence through the strap connection 54, stationary contact 52, bridging contact 65, stationary contact 53, strap connection 56, to terminal 51, thence through wire 16 to the motor 30 and through the ground connections H back to the battery. This circuit will cause the motor to rotate and by rotation throw the pinion 33 of the Bendix starter drive into engagement with the engine flywheel gear 23, thus rotating the engine.

As soon as the engine has become self-operating it will throw the pinion 33 out of mesh with the flywheel 23 and thus disconnect the motor from the engine. Operation of the engine also operates the generator 35, causing it to send a charging current in two directions: from the generator 35 through the wire 10, magnet winding 42, through wire 69 to the contact cap 68, thence through pedal 25, ground connections 7| back to the generator 35. Current flowing through the winding 42 will provide a magnetic field, causing the plunger 46 to be attracted and thus the disc-like head 50 will be moved against the partition 38 which forms a part of the magnetic field. This movement of the plunger 46 toward the core 44 moves the stationary contacts 52 and 53 supported thereon out of engagement with the bridging contact 65 and out of the field of movement of said bridging contact, and thus the motor switch is rendered ineffective.

The circuit through the magnet remains closed as long as the clutch pedal is depressed, but on release of the clutch pedal the circuit to the ground is broken on disengagement of the pedal 25 and the contact piece 68, so that the contacts 52 and 53 are again in position to be closed by the bridge contact piece 65, if the clutch pedal be again depressed. However, so long as the engine is in operation, depression of the clutch pedal will not effect closing of the motor circuit because downward movement of the said pedal completes the circuit from the generator through the magnet immediately on contact of the pedal 25 with the contact piece 68 and the contacts 52 and 53 are moved by the magnet to a position where the bridge contact 65 cannot engage said contacts, before the bridge contact can be moved by the pedal 25 to its switch closing position. Another circuit established by the generator while it is being driven is through the relay 72, wire (iii 13 to terminal 55 and thence through wire ll to the battery 15 and back to the generator by the ground connection ll. This circuit is the charging circuit for the battery.

From the aforegoing it may be seen that applicant has provided a starting device manually con trolled by the clutch pedal which also controls the clutch interposed between the engine and power transmitting mechanism. Applicant has provided a safe-guarding device which renders the starting switch ineffective to close the starting circuit during the operation of the engine, so that the clutch pedal 25 may be manipulated for clutch control without damaging the starting device.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the power transmitting mechanism is entirely disconnected from the engine during the starting operation and thus the drag, caused by the congealed greases in the housing 2|, particularly at low temperatures, is entirely eliminated, consequently this extra load is removed from the starting device during the starting operation.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope oi the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electric energy, said switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is manually operable to close the motor circuit; and means responsive to the operation of the engine, for

moving other of the switch contacts to render.

the switch ineffective to close the circuit. t

2. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electrical energy, said switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is manually operable into engagement with the other to close the motor circuit; and means responsive to the operation of the engine, for moving said other contact out of engagement with the manually operated contact.

I 3. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electrical energy, said switch having cooperating. contacts, one of which is manually operable into engagement with the other to close the motor circuit; and means responsive to the operation of the engine, for moving said other contact out of the field of movement of the manually operated contact whereby the switch is rendered inefiective to close the motor circuit while the engine is operating.

4. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a generator driven by the engine; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electrical energy, said switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is movable manually into engagement with the other to close the motor circuit; and means responsive to the operation of the generator for moving the said other contact out of engagement with the manually operated one.

5. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a generator driven by the engine; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electrical energy, said switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is movable manually into engagementwith the other to close the motor circuit; and means responsive to the operation of the generator for moving the said other contact out of the field of movement of the manually operated contact whereby said switch is rendered ineffective to close the motor circuit while the generator is being driven by the engine.

6. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a generator driven by the engine; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electrical energy, said switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is movable manually into engagement with the other to close the motor circuit; and an electro-magnet adapted, in response to generator operation, to move the said other contact out of engagement with the manually operated contact.

7. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a generator driven by the engine; a switch adapt ed to connect the motor with the source of elec trical energy, said switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is movable manually into engagement with the other to close the motor circuit; and an electro-magnet adapted, in response to generator operation, to move and maintain the said other contact out of the field of movement of the manually operated contact, for rendering the switch ineffective to close the motor circuit, during the operation of the generator by the engine.

8. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electrical energy, said switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is manually mov able into engagement with the other, the said other being movable out 01. engagement with the manually movable contact; a manually operable member adapted to engage the manually operable contact to move it into engagement with its cooperating contact; and means responsive to engine operation for moving the said cooperating contact out of the field of movement of the manually operated contact.

9. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electrical energy, said switch having normally disengaged contacts, relatively movable coaxially; a manually operable member adapted to move the one contact into engagement with the other to close the motor circuit; and automatic means responsive to engine operation adapted to move said other contact out of engagement with the manually operated contact to render the starting circuit inefiective during engine operation.

10. A starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a source of electrical energy; a generator driven by the engine; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the source of electrical energy, said switch having normally disengaged contacts, relatively movable coaxially; manually operable means adapted to engage the one contact to move it into engagement with the other contact to close the motor circuit; and an electro-magnet in circuit with the generator, and adapted to move and maintain the other contact out of engagement with the manually operated one, during the operation of the generator.

11. A starting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor; a storage battery; a switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is movable manually into engagement with the other to close the motor circuit for cranking purposes; a manually operable member adapted to engage the manually movable contact to move it into engagement with its cooperating contact; and means responsive to the operation of the engine for moving said other contact out of engagement with the manually operated contact only when said manually operated contact is engaged by the manually operable member.

12. A starting device for an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a starting motor; a generator driven by the engine; a storage battery; a switch having cooperating contacts, the one of which is manually movable into engagement with the other, the said other being movable automatically out of engagement with the first; manually operable means for operating said one contact; and means responsive to generator operation for moving said other contact out of engagement with the first, only when said manually operable means engages the said first mentioned contact.

13. A starting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor; a generator driven by the engine; a storage battery; a switch having cooperating contacts, the one of which is manually movable into engagement with the other, the said other being movable automatically out of engagement with the first; manually operable means for operating said one contact, and an electro-magnet adapted to be connected with the generator only when the manually operable means engages the one switch contact, said electro-magnet being adapted to move said other contact out of engagement with the manually operated contact when the generator is being driven by the engine and the manually operable member engages said one contact.

14'. A starting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected with the engine for cranking purposes; a storage battery; a generator driven by the engine; a switch having cooperating contacts, one of which is movable manually to close the motor circuit; manual means for operating the switch; and means responsive to the operation of the generator, and the manual means, for moving the other contact or" the switch to open said switch and to render the switch inefiective to again close the motor circuit while the engine is running.

15. A starting system for an internal combustion engine provided with a manually operable control member, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a storage battery; 2. switch having two movable contacts, one of which is adapted to be engaged by the manually operable control member to be moved into engagement with the other to close the motor circuit; and an electro-magnet, rendered effective by the engagement of the movable operable control member with the one contact of the switch during engine operation, to move said other contact out of the field of movement of the said one contact.

16. A starting system for an internal combustion engine having a clutch and a clutch pedal, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for starting purposes; a storage battery; a generator driven by the engine; a switch having two movable contacts, one of which is adapted to be engaged by the clutch pedal and moved thereby into engagement with the other to close the starting motor circuit; and an electro-magnet adapted to be energized by the generator only when the clutch pedal engages the one contact, for moving the other contact out of the path of movement of said one contact to render the switch ineffeciive to close the motor circuit while the generator is being driven by the engine.

17. A starting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a storage battery; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the battery, said switch having two plungers, one of which insulatingly supports a bridging contact; two contacts insulatingly supported upon the other plunger; means for moving the bridging contact supporting plunger to cause the bridging contact to engage the two contacts supported upon the other plunger; and means adapted to move said other plunger to disengage its con tacts from the bridging contact in response to engine operation.

18. A starting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a storage battery; a generator driven by the engine; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the battery, said switch having two plungers, one of which insulatingly supports a bridging contact; two contacts insulatingly supported upon the other plunger; means for moving the bridging contact supporting plunger to cause the bridging contact to engage the two contacts supported upon the other plunger; and means adapted in response to generator operation to move the two contact carrying plungers away from the other plunger for separating its two contacts from the bridging Contact during generator operation.

19. A starting device for an internal combustion engine, comprising in combination, a starting motor adapted to be connected to the engine for cranking purposes; a storage battery; a generator driven by the engine; a switch adapted to connect the motor with the battery, said switch having two plungers, one of which insulatingly supports a bridging contact; two contacts insulatingly supported upon the other plunger; means for moving the bridging contact support ng plunger to cause the bridging contact to engage the two contacts supported upon the other p1unger; and an electroma-gnet operable in response to generator operation to attract the one plunger and move its two contacts out of engagement with the bridging contact during generator operation.

20. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a starting motor, a current source, a switch adapted to connect the starting motor with said current source comprising a switch having a contact member normally movable into engagement with a second contact member to complete the circuit between the current source and starting motor, and means responsive to the operation of the engine for moving the second contact member to break said circuit, and render the starting motor ineffective.

21. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a starting motor, a current source, a switch adapted to connect the starting motor with said current source comprising a switch having a contact member normally movable into engagement with a normally fixed second contact member to complete the circuit between the current source and starting motor and means responsive to operation of the engine for moving said normally fixed contact member to break said circuit and render the starting motor inefiective.

22. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a starting motor, a current source, a switch adapted to connect the starting motor with said current source comprising a switch having a contact member normally movable into engagement with a second contact member to complete the circuit between the curi rent source and starting motor, and means responsive to the operation of the engine for mov ing the second contact member into position to break said circuit in order to render the starting motor ineffective and to hold the contact member in circuit breaking position as long as the engine continues to run.

23. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a starting motor, a current source, a switch adapted to connect the starting motor with said current source comprising a switch having a contact member normally movable into engagement with a second contact member to complete the circuit between the current source and starting motor, and means operative when the engine reaches a predetermined speed to move the second contact member to a position to break the circuit and render the starting motor ineffective.

24. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a starting motor, a current source, a switch adapted to connect the starting motor with said current source comprising a switch having a contact member normally movable into engagement with a second contact mem- 5 ber to complete the circuit between the current source and starting motor, and means operative when the engine reaches a predetermined speed to move the second contact member to a position to break the circuit and render the starting motor inefiective, said last named means being operative to maintain the second contact member in circuit breaking position as long as the engine continues to run.

25. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a starting motor, a current source, a main control switch for controlling operation of the starting motor, a member adapted to be actuated by the operator to close said control main switch and connect the starting motor with said current source in order to start the engine and means operated by the engine-for opening said main control switch to render the starting motor ineffective, irrespective of the po sition of said switch closing member.

26. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising a starting motor, a current source, a main control switch for controlling operation of the starting motor, a member adapted to be actuated by the operator to close said main 80 control switch and connect the starting motor with said current source in order to start the engine and means operated bythe engine when operating at a predetermined speed for opening said main control switch to render the starting motor inefiective, irrespective or the position of said' switch closing member, said last named means being efiective to hold the switch open as long as the engine continues to run whereby the starting motor can not be operated during oper- 40 ation of the engine.

27. Control apparatus for internal combustion engines of automotive vehicles comprising a starting motor, a current source, a main switch for connecting said starting motor and the cur- 5 rent source, a control lever adapted to operate one of the vehicle control mechanisms and to close said switch to render the starting motor effective, and means operated by the engine to open said main switch to render the starting motor ineffective, irrespective of the position of said switch closing lever.

JOHN B. DYER. 

